For months, Michigan coach John Beilein consistently told Spike Albrecht and his family there probably wouldn't be room for him on next year's team.

Even if he got healthy enough to play after double hip surgery, he would have to find another school for his graduate transfer season as U-M would already have two point guards on the roster in senior Derrick Walton Jr. and incoming freshman Xavier Simpson.

But, according to Albrecht, not only did he say he couldn't play at Michigan, Beilein also told him the other places he wouldn't let him play: any Big Ten school or an opponent in the next two years on Michigan schedule.

Albrecht and his father both told the Free Press they understood the decision to restrict schools and they were "grateful" for what Beilein had done over the previous four years. Ricky Doyle, who is also transferring but with two years remaining and one available to redshirt, has similar restrictions but his family also appreciated how up front and honest Beilein has been with them and didn't expect it to be an issue as they searched.

Both families said Beilein told them he would support them finding another school and discuss whatever school that was if it arose.

The Big Ten's rule is the same for undergraduate and graduate transfers. If they transfer within the conference, they have to sit a year at the new school and lose a year of eligibility. As a fifth-year player, like Albrecht, obviously that's not an option.

"Rule 15.01.5. Intraconference Transfer Rules. B. Post Matriculation. A student-athlete that has signed a tender from a Conference institution and has triggered transfer status per NCAA Bylaw 14.5.2 (conditions affecting transfer status), may not represent an alternate Big Ten institution in intercollegiate athletics competition until the individual has completed one (1) full academic year of residence at the alternate (i.e., certifying) Big Ten institution and shall be charged with the loss of one (1) season of eligibility in all sports."

Beilein went through a similar process last year when Max Bielfeldt transferred -- Beilein told him he wasn't welcome back for his fifth year -- and Bielfeldt wanted to to go to Indiana. A Big Ten rule said he would have to sit out a year transferring within the conference and with only one to play, that wasn't feasible.

Bielfeldt appealed to a board at Michigan and won his release, having a great season for the Hoosiers, winning the Big Ten sixth man of the year award.

So Beilein has been through this before and made his objections known all season, consistently citing his problems with the grad transfer rules. Yet it was reported by ESPN.com on Wednesday that U-M has contacted a graduate transfer shooting guard from Columbia, Grant Mullins, for next season.

Still, he made his point clear to Forde.

“Having a kid sit out a year is not like going to jail,” he said. “It’s a slippery slope. I want what’s best for Spike but also what’s best for our program. You train a guy and develop him for four years and suddenly he’s the starting point guard at Michigan State?”

While Forde used the football example for Jake Rudock moving from Iowa to Michigan, that isn't quite the same.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz didn't put any restrictions on Rudock's transfer, just knowing the Big Ten rule would make it unlikely barring an appeal. It helped him that he knew U-M wouldn't face Iowa unless it was in the Big Ten title game.

Rudock's appeal was to the Big Ten, making the case that he wanted U-M's graduate program to prep himself for medical school.